Miller to Adapt the Spirit[VARIETY] Comic book artist Frank Miller will adapt and direct The Spirit, based on comic legend Will Eisner’s classic strip.
Miller co-directed Sin City with Robert Rodriguez.
The Spirit, which debuted in 1940, tells the story of a masked detective who is believed to be dead. Using a mausoleum as his home base, Eisner’s character fights crime in the dark shadows of Central City, using cunning and ingenious forms of punishment.
“I intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won’t be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect,” said Miller.
Read the whole story.
I like Miller’s work an awful lot, but I’m a little bit worried about the way he’s parsing his words. He’s going to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of Eisner’s work. Not to the work itself — but to the heart and soul of the work. And since he’s going to be the one to decide what that heart and soul is…
I guess I’d feel more comfortable is he promised to be faithful to Eisner’s work. And, yes, if it were almost anyone but Eisner, I probably wouldn’t care. But we’re talking one of the heads of the Comics Pantheon.
Tread carefully, ‘k?
Transcript
[Panel 1]
(Cassie Cruz is helping her assistant, Jeremy, up off the floor. A tipped-over box and a ringing phone are beside them.)
Cassie: I haven’t seen anyone use Quickshag™ in ages!
These assassination attempts are getting worse!
[Panel 2]
(Cassie bends down as Jeremy reaches into the carpet.)
Cassie: Hold on...
[Panel 3]
(Jeremy, kneeling, pulls a landline-style phone out of the carpet and speaks nervously as Cassie stands behind him.)
Jeremy: Hello, this is—
Oh, yes.
Right away...
[Panel 4]
(Jeremy hands the phone to Cassie.)
Jeremy: It’s a very powerful-sounding woman, and she’s absolutely furious!
[Panel 5]
(Cassie looks annoyed as she takes the phone.)
Cassie: I told you... no personal calls at the office...
Jeremy: No... it’s for you...
[Panel 6]
(Close-up of Cassie and Jeremy. Cassie glares as Jeremy smirks.)
Cassie: I’d punish you for being a smart ass...
If you didn’t enjoy it so much.
Credit: © 2025 Brad J. Guigar. All rights reserved.
